Myers and Julia Keen Neighborhood Updates

An important aspect of this mural project is finding out as much as we can about our neighborhoods through community dialogues and workshops. Recently we met again with the Julia Keen Neighborhood Association, this time to create watercolors together.

This was an opportunity for neighbors to try their hand at watercolor painting and find out a little bit more about the elements of art, techniques and mural terminology. It was a wonderful workshop with some very detailed paintings. Neighbors went on to vote in support of efforts to paint new murals in 2011.

On Nov 2^nd we met with the residents of the Myers Neighborhood to gather ideas for the mural and find out a little more about the neighborhood history. Like much of Tucson this is a relatively new area with most of the houses built within the last 60 years.

Here is some of the time-line we are developing:

Timeline

1950’s (early) The area was open fields.

1950’s (late ) First planned developments drew people to the area. Air Force Base housing was also in the area.

1968-70 Air Base exchanges land with the city. Air Force moves to south of Golf Links. The edge of the Air base had been the back of Freedom Park.

1990’s Neighborhood Watch established.

In the past there had been many trick-or-treaters from the neighborhood. As the population has aged there are less kids, and trick-or-treaters seem to come in from outside the area. We used to have to put chicken wire up to keep the jack rabbits out.

Freedom Park

The name “Freedom Park” was voted on by neighborhood children.

Freedom Center Senior Lunch Group is a great place to meet elders and long time residents from the area.

Many of the residents described the changes they have seen. They still love this place and feel like it’s home.

We used to have more sports like bad-mitten, we would do cook outs. There was a drive in called El Molintos. Also at 29^th and Swan there was a housing complex for people with disabilities. It is now a medical center.

Our Design is Approved

Our mural design is finally finished! TAB Mural students have been hard at work illustrating the ideas articulated by neighborhood residents.

On Tuesday night, November 16, ten students from the 29^th Street TAB Mural Arts Team presented their design to members of the 29^th Street Coalition. The coalition includes representation from the five neighborhoods where students from our ever expanding club live. We asked for feedback, and approval for our design. We wanted to showcase emerging youth leaders in these neighborhoods, and give adult residents an opportunity to interface with youth. As youth, adults, elders, social service providers, business owners and first responders get to know one another we construct safer more prosperous communities by building social networks.

Here is some of what the kids read from their journals:

“My name is Kevin from the Arts Brigade mural club. In our mural we have lots of creative things. Everyone drew something, even me. This is about our neighborhood. What there is and what you see are buildings, mountains and in the middle there is a ying- yang sign, people and animals. Wee are asking you to let us paint this. We want your opinions and to know how you feel about this wonderful mural design.”

“Hi my name is Blanca. I’m 10 years old and I’m from the Arts Brigade mural class. . I did this speech to ask for your permission for us to paint this beautiful mural. What I see in the mural is a community with all the people and a Food City, and all the animals and mountains and Egges, Burger King and the park with a pond.”

“Hi my name is David I am from the Arts Brigade mural program. In our mural we have lots of creative painters, and have done a lot of work on this creation.”

“Hello my name is Cinthia, I’m one of the kids from Arts Brigade Mural class. We drew the mural to show how our community works. As you can see we drew many buildings, like Food City and Boys and Girls Club and there is a ying yang sign.”

“I’m Infinity and I’m from the mural class. In our mural I see lots of people helping each other out and not being rough and lots of business is going on.”

“Hi my name is Brandon and in our mural there is a dragon that is shooting fire out and there is a mountain that is shaded. There is a community, Food City, Burger King and there is a bus and cars. There is the Boys and Girls Club with three kids. There is a ying-yang sign with people all around, and there are ducks and a big duck. Thank you and have a great night.”

The Coalition members were really impressed by the students and their design. A motion was passed to approve the mural design followed by applause from everyone. The youth beamed with pride and thanked the coalition for their support, handing out thank you cards to the Coalition. The next day in class (every Wed. 2:30 – 4:30) to begin the process of learning about acrylic paints and color theory as we prepared to transfer our design to the wall using a dot and grid process.

Our Community is Cool

We have been busy designing a mural for the interior of the Boys and Girls Club the past few weeks. We have over 20 kids participating each Wednesday from 2:30 - 4:30. Every week more young artists join teacher Mr. Michael and assistant Ms. Linda. It's been amazing to see all the talent emerging. Every class we look at and talk about art, work in our journals and as a team. At the end of the class we take a few minutes to reflect on our work.


Over the past few weeks we've been learning about the elements of art (line, shape, color, texture, value, space, form) and various principles of design (movement, repetition, unity and variety, contrast, scale, emphasis, harmony, balance). Along with this we are learning drawing techniques or "skill builders", about scale and mural design materials.

Our ideas are a reflection of information gathered from Myers and Julia Keen neighbors, as well as comments gathered during the Community Celebration October 14 in Freedom Park.

On Tuesday November 2nd we met with Neighbors from Myers. We had a great discussion that could have gone on for hours. We will be reporting on that discussion in upcoming posts. All of these input forms were shared with youth artists.

We have also been overjoyed at all the visitors form the neighborhoods that have come in to share stories and ask students questions. Last week we were joined by Pat Richter and Emily Brott.


After priming the wall we got right back to work on our design, combining and sharing ideas through conversations and drawings.



Next up we will be presenting our design to the 29th Street Coalition on Tuesday November 16 at 6pm at the Roberts Naylor Community School Library
1701 S Columbus Blvd..

ALSO!

There will be a holiday Watercolor Workshop with Julia Keen neighbors. This is a really fun workshop and we hope you will join us Tuesday November 23, 6:30pm - 8pm at Worldcare 3538 East Ellington Place.

Julia Keen Neighborhood Mural Ideas

On September 28, 2010, we met at World Care and came up with some ideas for what we want to see in our mural, and to talk about what makes our neighborhood a special place. Below are the voices of Julia Keen Neighborhood Association.


Welcome to the Julia Keen Neighborhood in Tucson, AZ. The important things to our neighborhood are people, friends, family, neighbors, safety, cleanliness, community connections, communication and gatherings.
We want to maintain the integrity of our neighborhood. Peace of mind, lots of police visits to our co-op and several cars vandalized and stolen. I prefer to stay inside with books and computer, I leave the neighborhood for social visits and volunteer jobs.



We hear and smell:

We hear Airplanes, trains, police helicopters.
Traffic, children, dogs, barbecue and frogs.
Gunshots.
Train smoke, trains hitting each other, school bus, tortillas.
kids skating, people splashing in pool, loud neighbors, TV, music, outdoor cell conversations.

Ideas for our mural:

Reflections of the history intertwined with the railroad and airbase (when Alvernon gate was open – pre jet aircraft)

Washes and pre-construction bosque, Reid Park, Julia Keen School

There is kickball in the streets.

We have a great association (JKNA)

Longevity – some who moved her in 1960, 62 and 64

Mountains in the background, negatives are numerous.

Some are afraid to walk around at night, others not so much.

Some people feel the neighborhood has changed:

- I found a bullet in my roof when we were doing repairs.
- It used to be safe to walk around, people kept things clean.
- The kids used to play in the field at Country Club and Silverlake.
- DeAnza Drive In has come and gone.
- We remember when Aviation was a two lane road.

Others say not much has changed. It feels like home.

Favorite Places

Our favorite places include our house and homes. Our Parks are Holly and Parkview-Reid. We have neighborhood picnics and socials in the parks. Holly Park is a magical gathering place with beautiful old trees, nature in the city, space to play and create. I like Reid park, green and peaceful, in some areas. I like my house. I like the ramada in Parkview Park when Julia Keen neighbors meet on Saturdays bi-monthly for coffee etc. Good “getting to know you” chats.

My house, it’s been my home for 48 years. Built in 1952. I like Holly Park, the picnics and my house.

Timeline: - This is just a start - we need your help!

• 1952 2327 S Holly, 2033 S. Camilla houses built
• 1960’s Citation Garden Co-Op’s on Palo Verde Built as a HUD project. Now owned individually.

Time line Questions:

1. Who are the long time residents?
2. Who used to work for the railroad?
3. What Year did JKNA came into being?
4. When was Julia Keen school built?
5. More to come. Up next we will be visiting with residents of the Myers neighborhood.

Mural Project Update

Things are moving along really well on our mural project. A special thanks to all the hard working people on the Mural Planning Team! We are entering the design input step, and plan on starting youth workshops this fall at the Boys and Girls Club.

Neighborhood Input Sessions:
We met for the first time with Myers and Julia Keen Neighborhood Associations to introduce the mural project and request time to gather ideas for the mural at their next meetings. We will be meeting with neighbors to ask them about local folklore, landmarks, history and personality and what they would like to see in their murals. Please join us!

Julia Keen Neighborhood Association
Tuesday September 28, 6:30 at World Care

Myers Neighborhood Association
Tuesday October 5, 7pm at Myers Ganoung School

We are looking forward to also gathering ideas from Naylor, Roberts and Alvernon Heights Neighborhood Associations. We are also offering each neighborhood Watercolor Workshops.

29th Street Community Celebration
Thursday October 14, 4-7pm in Freedom Park

We will be handing out surveys and asking people what they would like to see in their murals. We are looking for a few more volunteers to help staff our table.

Elders/ Long Time Resident Sharing:
Donna Higginbotham Perkins attended our last mural planning meeting. She had a ton of great ideas. She has been organizing "Coffee Klusters" in the Alvernon Heights Neighborhood. This is a time for folks to get together talk about what is important to them, and then have a theme. We are planning to have the mural be the theme at one of the upcoming meetings.



Youth Mural Arts Workshops

Youth Mural design and Painting Workshops will start Oct 20, and be every Wednesday 2:30 – 4:30pm at the Boys and Girls Club through December 15. We would like to have Youth present their design to the 29t Street Coalition in November. We will do the actual painting in December. Download a poster by clicking on the image. Kids will need to become members of the Boys and Girls Club for $5 and can register at the center.



Mural Locations

Our first mural will be on the interior of the Boys and Girls Club Craft room. We expect this smaller project to be complete by January 2011. This is a really great wall and will be seen by students for many years to come.

We are continuing to look for funding, and awaiting word on grants for larger outdoor projects. We can continue to scout walls that match our budget. These sites include:

1) 7-11 wall and retaining walls of the apartments at 29th and Columbus
2) Overpass at 29th and Columbus (The interior of the overpass is the most realistic option, but we still are awaiting final OK from the city. The costs associated with this option are high, but could be worth it considering the amount of tagging in the overpass.)
3) Adult Education Building on 27th South of Alvernon.
4) 5 Grand Creamery
5) Donut Shop

Blog
Send in your jpeg images with captions, links and stories, poems or other content you would like to share on THIS site!

Next Mural Planning Team Meeting/Ice Cream Social:
Please join us and support a local business and enjoy some ice cream!

Thursday Oct. 6, 6-7pm
5 Grand Creamery 4000 E 29th St.

Project Update from Planning Team

Our gift for service! A beautiful rainbow at the conclusion of our meeting!

The planning team for the 29th Street Coalition Mural Project met again last night. In attendance were Linda, Kate, Pat, Sergio, Michael and Emily. We are making progress as we finalize the location for the mural and start planning the many input session that will be taking place this fall.

There are three types of workshops we are scheduling.

1) Neighborhood input sessions lasting 20 minutes or longer. We will be asking residents what is important to them, what would they like to see in the mural, and about their stories of neighborhood life. A second 30 minute watercolor workshop will also be offered as a way of gathering visual ideas. Residents are asked to bring photographs, memorabilia, heirlooms and other artifacts that can help illustrate their ideas and stories.

2) Elder Share/ Long Time Resident House Parties last an hour or longer. Each neighborhood will have the opportunity to host an event intended for long time residents. This will be an informal opportunity to share ideas for the mural and stories about their lives in the neighborhood.

3) Youth Mural Club will be after school on Wednesdays (time and location is being finalized). In these workshops youth will learn about the elements of art, principles of design, painting, observational drawing and the history of murals. We will be working directly with neighbors and elders to illustrate their stories and ideas and developing a design for our mural. Additionally we will be presenting our work to neighbors and city representatives while learning about the civic dimensions of mural making.

We have already started working with the Julia Keen neighborhood and will be getting input from them at their September meeting. We are in the process of scheduling initial 5 minute presentations, then longer input session with Alvernon Heights , Myers, Naylor and Roberts Neighborhoods. We are also still looking for volunteers to video tape the neighborhood and long time resident sessions.

Mural Location

We are looking into two sites. The fist site is the over pass at 29^th and Columbus.

Image of overpass at 29th and Columbus

Current interior of overpass looks like this. When taking these images I asked a group of youth who were hanging out if they thought we should do a mural here - they all said yes, and wanted to be involved. Imagine.

We plan to first paint the interior, and if funds become available the exterior. We are working with the city “Public Art Program Selection Process” to address costs associated with traffic, engineering and risk management. Once our design is complete youth, residents and the lead artist will present the work to the city for approval.

Image of the 7-11 wall

The second location is at the7-11. We are seeking permission from the franchise owner and also looking at the electrical box owned by TEPCo.

TEPCo. Box before shot

Our next meeting will be Thursday September 2, 6pm

5 Grand Creamery 4000 E. 29th St.

Movie and Play Night June 26

Welcome To Our Blog

Welcome to the official 29th Street Coalition Community Mural Project Blog!

We will be posting upcoming workshops, planning session, community meetings and more on this site.

We have some very exciting opportunities coming this fall including:

- Long Time Resident/ Elder Shares

- Community Design Input Sessions

- After School Mural Arts Workshops: for ages 10-17, starting in (September)

Over the summer we will be building this site and posting detailed information about how you can get involved. For now we encourage you to become a follower of the blog, and spread the word!